Sliding gate closure assembly for bottom-pour teeming vessels

ABSTRACT

A reciprocable slidable gate closure assembly for bottom-pour teeming vessels. The gate is of two-piece construction, each piece being independently supported by spring-loaded levers. The purpose is to assure that the outlet of the vessel may be closed effectively even though a fin forms between the gate and the vessel bottom.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,709,411 Shapland 1451 Jan. 9, 1973 [54] SLIDING GATE CLOSURE ASSEMBLY 3,501,068 3/1970 Shapland...1 ..222/s12 FOR BOTTOM-POUR TEEMING 3,352,465 11/1967 Shapland ..222/512 VESSELS Inventor: James Thomas Shapland, Wilkins Twsp., Allegheny County, Pa.

Assignee: United States Steel Corporation,

Pittsburg, Pa.

Filed: Oct. 14, 1970 Appl. No.: 80,541

(1.8. CI ..222/5l2 Int. Cl. ..B2 2d 37/00 Field of Search. ..222/DIG. 7, DIG. 18

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1971 Tinnes ..222/56l Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant ExamineF-Thomas E. Kocovsky Attorney-Ralph l-l. Dougherty [57] ABSTRACT Areciprocable slidable gate closure assembly for hottom-pour teeming vessels. The gate is of two-piece construction, each piece being independently supported by spring-loaded levers. The purpose is to assure that the outlet of the vessel may be closed effectively even though a fin forms between the gate and the vessel bottom.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 70 H)- DRA UL 1c PUMP mau HY- DIM UL 1c PUMP Pmimmm 9mm 3.709.411

SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTORY JAMES 7. SHAPLA/VD A Horney SLIDING GATE CLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR BOTTOM-POUR TEEMING VESSELS This invention relates to an improved slidable gate construction for use as a closure member on a bottompour vessel.

Although my invention is not so limited, my gate construction is particularly useful as applied to vessels for pouring molten metal, for example a ladle or tundish. Such vessels have an outlet in the bottom wall through which molten metal is poured into a receiving vessel. It is known to equip a pouring vessel with a slidable gate closure mounted on the underside of the bottom wall for controlling flow of metal through the outlet, examples of which are shown in Lewis US. Pat. No. 311,902 and in Shapland US. Pat. No. 3,352,465. When a reciprocable refractory closure member is used with a bottom-pour vessel as taught in the aforementioned patents, sometimes a fin or other obstruction forms on theibearing surface of the closure member and forces the closure member downwardly from the teeming nozzle. This creates a gap between the closure member and the nozzle and allows molten metal to flow therebetween in all directions. This not only results in great damage to the operating mechanism but also constitutes an extreme safety hazard to the pouring crew.

An object of my invention is to provide a slidable gate closure assembly which will prevent molten steel from escaping uncontrollably when an obstruction causes a gap between the bearing surfaces of the bottom wall and the closure member.

It is another object of my invention to provide a simple, two-piece slidable gate closure assembly wherein each piece can move vertically independently of the other piece when encountering an obstruction between the vessel bottom and the gate surface.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the gate assembly of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical-sectional view taken along line II-II ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical-sectional view taken along line III-Ill of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a portion of a bottom-pour vessel which has a metal shell 12 and a refractory lining 13. The bottom wall of vessel 10 has an outlet opening within which a nozzle 14 is mounted. The closure assembly includes a refractory top plate 15 partially enclosed in a metal frame 16. A mounting base 18 is fixedly attached to the underside of vessel 10 by bolts 19 or other suitable means. Lugs 20 atopbase l8 engage the sides of top plate 15 to maintain the position of plate 15 with respect to the nozzle 14. As illustrated, base 18 clamps plate 15 to the vessel bottom and furnishes the sole attaching means therefor. Nevertheless, it is evident that plate 15 could be bolted or otherwise attached to the vessel bottom. Housed in base 18 are a plurality of compression springs 21. Series of rocker arms 24 and 25 are pivotally attached to the un dersides of base 18 by pins 26. Rockerarms 24 are located at both ends of the series and are shorter than rocker arms 25 for a purpose hereinafter explained.

My slidable gate construction includes a central refractory plate 28 having a vertical orifice opening 29 therethrough and a peripheral refractory girdle 31 having a metal frame 32. The central plate 28 and girdle can have relative vertical movement. Central plate 28 may be inserted into a metal frame 33 if desired.

The shorter rocker arms 24 support girdle 31, while the longer rocker arms 25 independently support central plate 28. One end of the slidable gate mechanism has means 34 for attachment to a hydraulic ram 35 for moving the plate 28 and girdle 31 horizontally as a unit to open or close the nozzle.

In operation, springs 21 urge the outboard ends of rocker arms 24 and 25 downwardly, whereby the inboard ends of the rocker arms hold the girdle 31 and central plate 28 firmly against the underside of the top plate 15. Rocker arms 24 and 25 are evenly and oppositely disposed on each side of vessel nozzle 14 to en sure the tightest possible sliding contact between the two-piece slidable gate and plate 15.

The drawings show the two-piece slidable gate in its closed position. To open the gate, hydraulic ram 35 moves the gate to the right (FIG. 1) until orifice 29 is aligned with vessel orifice 14. If the upper surface of the slidable gate contacts a fin or other obstruction, central plate 28 is forced downwardly from plate 15. However, girdle 31, being independently supported, will remain firmly against plate 15 and thereby prevent molten metal from flowing uncontrollably over the top of the'slidable gate. Thus, if central plate 28 is forced downwardly, girdle 31 forms the side walls of a chamber above the central plate. The only path through which molten steel can escape is through orifice 29, whereby pouring can continue until completion. The clearance between the edges of central plate 28 and girdle 31 is small. Hence any molten metal which gets between these edges solidifies and prevents further leakage.

It is readily seen from the foregoing that I have invented a reciprocable slidable gate of two-piece construction wherein the entire gate is movable horizontally as a unit to perform the normal functions of a slidable gate, yet each part can move vertically independently of the other when encountering an obstruction and thus prevent molten steel from escaping uncontrollably above the slidable gate.

I claim:

1. The combination with a bottom pour vessel which has a nozzle in its bottom wall, of a closure mechanism for said nozzle, said mechanism comprising:

a slidable gate. including;

A. A peripheral refractory girdle having an opening and a. a

b. a central refractory plate having a vertical opening therethrough slidably positioned within the opening of said girdle,

c. there being a peripheral space surrounding said plate providing clearance between said girdle and said plate; means on the bottom wall of said vessel supporting said girdle; and biasing means on the bottom .wall of said vessel supporting said plate and urging said plate upwardly said first named means and said biasing means permitting the plate and girdle to move vertically relative to each other but to slide as a unit relative to said vessel.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for slidably positioning said plate so that the opening therein moves into and out of vertical alignment with said vessel nozzle.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2 in which said positioning means comprises a hydraulic ram.

4. A combination with a bottom pour vessel which has a nozzle in its bottom wall, of a closure mechanism for said nozzle, said mechanism comprising: 1

a slidable gate including a central refractory plate having an opening therethrough, and a peripheral refractory girdle having an opening within which said plate is fitted for vertical sliding movement;

a base affixed to the bottom of said vessel;

a plurality of compressed springs housed in said base;

and

a plurality of rocker arms pivotally attached to said base, the outboard end of said rocker arms being urged downwardly by said springs, a number of said rocker arms being short, the inboard ends of which short rocker arms support said girdle, the remainder of said rocker arms being long, the inboard ends of which long rocker arms support said plate, whereby said plate and said girdle may slide as a unit relative to said vessel, but may move vertically relative to each other.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4 further comprising lugs affixed to the top of said base, and a top plate held by said lugs between said base and the bottom wall of said vessel. 

1. The combination with a bottom pour vessel which has a nozzle in its bottom wall, of a closure mechanism for said nozzle, said mechanism comprising: a slidable gate including; A. A peripheral refractory girdle having an opening and a. a b. a central refractory plate having a vertical opening therethrough slidably positioned within the opening of said girdle, c. there being a peripheral space surrounding said plate providing clearance between said girdle and said plate; means on the bottom wall of said vessel supporting said girdle; and biasing means on the bottom wall of said vessel supporting said plate and urging said plate upwardly said first named means and said biasing means permitting the plate and girdle to move vertically relative to each other but to slide as a unit relative to said vessel.
 2. A combination as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for slidably positioning said plate so that the opening therein moves into and out of vertical alignment with said vessel nozzle.
 3. A combination as defined in claim 2 in which said positioning means comprises a hydraulic ram.
 4. A combination with a bottom pour vessel which has a nozzle in its bottom wall, of a closure mechanism for said nozzle, said mechanism comprising: a slidable gate including a central refractory plate having an opening therethrough, and a peripheral refractory girdle having an opening within which said plate is fitted for vertical sliding movement; a base affixed to the bottom of said vessel; a plurality of compressed springs housed in said base; and a plurality of rocker arms pivotally attached to said base, the outboard end of said rocker arms being urged downwardly by said springs, a number of said rocker arms being short, the inboard ends of which short rocker arms support said girdle, the remainder of said rocker arms being long, the inboard ends of which long rocker arms support said plate, whereby said plate and said girdle may slide as a unit relative to said vessel, but may move vertically relative to each other.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 4 further comprising lugs affixed to the top of said base, and a top plate held by said lugs between said base and the bottom wall of said vessel. 